Mac Mini (Late 2012) Suggestions for final config please.

[Tesla1856]

Still running mine as my main Plex server and EyeTV recorder with a SiliconDust HDConnect tuner.

That's an idea for it. I've been using my Synology NAS as a Plex-Server all these years, but I've heard a dedicated machine can be better sometimes. I think it depends on the vintage of either as to which one would handle to higher-bandwidth files easier.

I was using mine as a Simple-Control/Roomie Server for many years until he changed it and pretty much depreciated that config/functionality. But in that role, it was super-solid and had "up time" like an actual server might have.

 

[Cave Man]

Mine streams 4k video to my LG TV just fine. What it struggles with is passthrough of TrueHD audio. But most of mine are in Dolby Digital 5.1. Unfortunately, LG TVs do not support DTS audio decoding, which is lame if you ask me.

 

[Tesla1856]

Mine streams 4k video to my LG TV just fine.

Good to know.

What it struggles with is passthrough of TrueHD audio.

Yeah weird ... it's just a BitStream (but by definition, a high-bit-rate one)

But most of mine are in Dolby Digital 5.1.

Yeah, it's fairly common (or at least is was at one time). At least that works.

Unfortunately, LG TVs do not support DTS audio decoding, which is lame if you ask me.

Yeah lame. Plain DTS has been around forever and as common as AC3/DD5.1 . Like what are you suppose to do to hear it (when source-material only has a DTS-track)? I guess they assume you will have an AVR/Amp in the system ... but not all people do. I do run Denon AVRs, but not in every room. Also, I see people running Sound-Bars and such (no AVR/Amp) so I assume there ... the TV needs to do the audio decoding.

 

[Cave Man]

My mini is connected to the TV via HDMI. The receiver I have does not have HDMI, so I have the computer connected to it via Toslink optical, which only supports up to 5.1 DD or DTS. So, I can play DTS (5.1) videos but only if I use Plex on the mini to play to the TV. If I use Plex under WebOS on the LG, it cannot decode the DTS audio. So, it's doable but inconvenient compared to using the LG remote with WebOS Plex.

 

[Tesla1856]

The receiver I have does not have HDMI, so I have the computer connected to it via Toslink optical, which only supports up to 5.1 DD or DTS.

Same here ... still running a Panasonic AVR SA-HE200 in Workout-Room (AC3 and DTS over SPDIF but no HDMI). I installed a Syba Envy24dt VIA VT1723 (Tremor) PCIe Audio-card (for SPDIF support) in the old Lenovo I have in that room serving as a Kodi-box.

The Onkyo-607 in my main Home-Theater finally blew its Front-Right-Channel, so replaced it with a nice Denon. I had a spare Sub-Woofer and some good speakers, so said screw-it, and just bought another new Denon for the Garage. Since the Onkyo wanted to be fried already, the Panny becomes third-string and still viable after all these years (its like circa 2003 or so).

 

[Cave Man]

I started with Onlyo back in 2008 or so after my Yamaha stereo receiver died. It was my first 5.1 system and that receiver was still working when I boxed it up for a new 7.1/5.1.2 Onkyo with wifi and BT. Plus it has a USB port which has a 512 GB stick containing Apple Lossless audio from nearly all of my CDs. It’s DAC and Dolby/DTS audio processing brings new life to two-channel audio. It’s amazing what modern receivers can do.

 

[Tesla1856]

I started with Onlyo back in 2008 or so after my Yamaha stereo receiver died. It was my first 5.1 system and that receiver was still working when I boxed it up for a new 7.1/5.1.2 Onkyo with wifi and BT.

Cool. My Onkyo-607 was HDMI and nice, just no Ethernet/WiFi or Network (I think that came the next year).

Plus it has a USB port which has a 512 GB stick containing Apple Lossless audio from nearly all of my CDs.

So you actually did it huh (got them all ripped) ... nice. I started mine as .wav (because I wanted non-lossy) but never quite got there. Now I have other sets of music files. If I had to do it again, I think I would use FLAC. I have a bunch of 5.1 (6-Channel) FLACS ripped from SACD's and DVD's ... that I can play in house but mostly in my Audi's Bang & Olufsen from a flash-drive.

It’s DAC and Dolby/DTS audio processing brings new life to two-channel audio. It’s amazing what modern receivers can do.

True. Even low bit-rate MP3's can get revitalized (when that's all you got).

Oh, and my newish LG webOS 4K-TV DOES have a SPDIF-out so I'm going to see about hooking that to the Panny . That should work for many things, including the TV's Smart-Apps (content generated by the TV itself). Thanks for spurring me along there.